Flake: meaning, definitions and examples

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flake

[fleɪk ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

snow

A small, thin piece of snow or ice.

Synonyms

crystal, ice chip, snowflake.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
flake	Commonly refers to a small, thin piece of something, often used for food or material. It can also be used informally to describe someone who is unreliable. She had a few flakes of chocolate on her dessert. John is such a flake; he didn't show up to the meeting again.
snowflake	A unique, six-sided ice crystal that falls from the sky in cold weather. Informally, it can also negatively describe someone who is overly sensitive. Each snowflake is unique in shape and design. He's called a snowflake because he gets offended so easily.
crystal	Describes a clear, transparent mineral or a piece of such mineral used in jewelry or decorative objects. Also used figuratively to talk about something very clear or clean. The chandelier was made of fine crystal. Her voice was as clear as crystal.
ice chip	Often refers to a small, thin piece of ice, usually used in drinks or for medical purposes, like soothing a sore throat. The nurse brought him ice chips to help with the pain. She crunched on ice chips to cool down in the summer heat.

Examples of usage

It's snowing outside, I can see the flakes falling.
The ground was covered in white flakes after the snowstorm.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

person

A person who is unreliable or who changes their mind frequently.

Synonyms

fickle person, inconsistent person, unreliable person.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
flake	Used informally to describe someone who is not reliable or often cancels plans last minute. John is such a flake; he didn't show up to the meeting again
unreliable person	Formal term for someone who cannot be trusted to do something properly or on time. Sarah is an unreliable person; she always forgets to complete her part of the group assignments
inconsistent person	Describes someone who does not behave in the same way every time, often leading to unpredictable actions. Tom is an inconsistent person; one day he's enthusiastic about the project, and the next day he doesn't care at all
fickle person	Refers to someone whose loyalties, interests, or affections change frequently, emphasizing their changeable nature. Mary is a fickle person when it comes to hobbies; she was really into painting last week, but now she's all about yoga

Examples of usage

I can't count on him, he's such a flake.
She's a flake, always cancelling plans at the last minute.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'flake' comes from the Old English 'flac', which means a small, flat piece.
In Middle English, the word evolved to 'flak', referring to something that peels or chips off.
It has been used in various contexts since the 14th century, showing its adaptability in language.

Science

In geology, flakes can refer to thin layers of rock, like slate, that break away easily.
Snowflakes, which are unique ice crystals, are often called 'flakes' because of their thin, flat structures.
Flakes of skin or dandruff are natural processes of shedding dead skin cells from the body.

Pop Culture

In the 1990s, a popular phrase was 'flake out', often used to describe someone who cancels social plans at the last minute.
The term 'flake' has been used in film and television to describe a character who is unreliable or inconsistent.
A famous cereal brand features a 'flaky' texture, emphasizing lightness and crispiness in their product's advertising.

Literature

William Shakespeare used similar concepts in his works, highlighting characters with flaky traits or behaviors.
The image of snowflakes has been widely used in poetry to symbolize delicacy and uniqueness of each person.
Modern novels sometimes describe characters as 'flakes' to give a sense of their unpredictable nature.

Psychology

In psychology, 'flake' can describe someone with avoidant behaviors, often associated with anxiety in social situations.
The notion of flakiness may be linked to attachment styles, indicating a person's tendency to withdraw or overcommit.
People often perceive flaky behavior negatively, leading to issues in personal and professional relationships.

Translations

Translations of the word "flake" in other languages:

🇵🇹 floco

🇮🇳 फलक

🇩🇪 Flocke

🇮🇩 serpihan

🇺🇦 пластівець

🇵🇱 płat

🇯🇵 フレーク

🇫🇷 flocon

🇪🇸 copo

🇹🇷 pul

🇰🇷 눈송이

🇸🇦 رقاقة

🇨🇿 vločka

🇸🇰 vločka

🇨🇳 薄片

🇸🇮 kosmič

🇮🇸 flaga

🇰🇿 қабыршақ

🇬🇪 ფურცელი

🇦🇿 lopur

🇲🇽 copo

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,091, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

...
17088 impassioned
17089 micron
17090 hosting
17091 flake
17092 succinctly
17093 frontispiece
17094 duchess
...